Man who told jury to 'vote not guilty' gets life for killing estranged wife in front of kids

ELIZABETH, N.J. – A New Jersey man barred from testifying at his murder trial after asking jurors to "vote not guilty" has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting his estranged wife in front of their two children.

Ewart Guillette was convicted in October on murder, child endangerment, criminal contempt and weapons charges in the August 2010 slaying of his wife, Stacey. Union County prosecutors say she was shot 16 times with two handguns.

A Superior Court judge warned the 36-year-old Hillside man three times not to talk to the jury before prohibiting him from testifying

Before the trial began, the judge dismissed potential jurors because of statements Guillette made in the courtroom. Guillette was banned from the courtroom except when his 13-year-old son testified and identified Guillette as the shooter.